Meade Instruments

Meade Instruments Corporation

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Optical and electromechanical instruments
Founded	1972 (1972)
Founder	John Diebel
Defunct	2024
Fate	Ceased operations; assets auctioned
Headquarters	Watsonville, California , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Joseph Lupica (CEO, 2013), Victor Aniceto (President, 2015)
Products	Telescopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, microscopes, CCD imaging devices, telescope accessories
Parent	Optronic Holding Corp (until 2024)

Meade Instruments Corporation (commonly known as Meade) was a U.S.-based multinational enterprise headquartered in Watsonville, California, specializing in the design, importation, and distribution of optical products such as telescopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, microscopes, CCD imaging devices, and related consumer accessories. At its peak, it held the distinction of being the largest telescope manufacturer worldwide.

The company promoted its offerings primarily under the "Meade" brand name and marketed solar observation telescopes through its "Coronado" line. As a subsidiary of Optronic Holding Corp, Meade operated within the optical and electromechanical instrument sector.

In July 2024, Sky and Telescope disclosed that Optronic Technologies, which owned both Meade and Orion Telescopes, had shut down their California operations and terminated all staff. By December 2024, assets belonging to Meade, Coronado, and Orion were slated for auction following the cessation of business activities by these entities.

Origins and history

Established in 1972 by John Diebel, Meade initially functioned as a mail-order retailer offering small refracting telescopes and accessories produced by Japan’s Towa Optical Manufacturing Company. The company began manufacturing its own instruments in 1976, debuting 6-inch and 8-inch reflector models in 1977. By 1980, Meade expanded into the Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope segment, an area previously dominated by Celestron Corporation. The firm has been involved in notable patent disputes, particularly with Celestron. In August 2008, Meade launched its "Advanced Coma-Free optics" (ACF Optics) technology within its Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope range.

Meade’s manufacturing locations have changed over the years: from its 1990s facility on Millikan Avenue in Irvine to a newer plant on Oak Canyon Road in Irvine until 2009. Subsequently, production was relocated to an enlarged factory in Tijuana, Mexico.

In October 2013, Meade merged with Ningbo Sunny Electronic, a Chinese manufacturer, appointing Joseph Lupica as CEO. Victor Aniceto took over as president in February 2015.

On November 26, 2019, a federal jury ruled against Ningbo and Meade for engaging in anti-competitive practices and price-fixing within the U.S. consumer telescope market, awarding $16.8 million in damages to Optronic Technologies. Shortly thereafter, on December 4, 2019, Meade Instruments filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Products

Meade’s range mainly featured sophisticated telescopes designed to serve both amateur enthusiasts and professional astronomers.

ACF telescopes

The ACF (Advanced Coma-Free) series is an enhanced variant of Meade’s Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. This design incorporates a hyperbolic secondary mirror alongside a spherical primary mirror paired with a modified full-aperture corrector plate. Although marketed as akin to Ritchey-Chrétien optics, Meade’s ACF employs a distinct optical configuration aimed specifically at minimizing coma aberrations.

Prominent models include

• LX90-ACF – offered with apertures ranging from 8" to 12",
• LX200-ACF – an upgraded LX200 series featuring ACF optics available from 8" up to 16",
• LX400-ACF – larger aperture models between 16" and 20" f/8 equipped with robotic equatorial mounts,
• LX800 series – premium instruments designed for advanced users seeking top-tier performance.

Maksutov Telescopes

Meade's ETX lineup features Maksutov-Cassegrain models, initially introduced in 1996 with a 90 mm variant. This collection includes apertures ranging from 90 mm up to 125 mm, catering to amateur astronomers who desire compact instruments with superior optical performance.

Newtonian Telescopes

Meade's Newtonian offerings comprise several designs:

• Schmidt-Newtonian models available in sizes from 6 to 10 inches
• LightBridge Dobsonian telescopes offered in 8, 10, 12, and 16-inch apertures
• The 4504 model, a 4.5-inch equatorial reflector

GoTo Telescopes

A core component of Meade’s strategy is the incorporation of computerized "GoTo" mounts—self-aligning alt-azimuth and equatorial systems that improve usability across various product categories.

Highlighted series include

• LXD75 lineup, which includes Newtonian, Schmidt-Newtonian, Advanced Coma-Free, and achromatic refractors
• ETX-LS models equipped with 150mm and 200mm F/10 ACF optics, GPS integration, and an Eclips camera for automatic alignment
• DS-2000 Series featuring altazimuth GoTo mounts compatible with refractors and reflectors from 80mm to 130mm
• LX80 and LX90 series
• ETX-70 and ETX-80 models
• LX85 series encompassing Newtonian, Schmidt-Newtonian, Advanced Coma-Free, and achromatic refractors

Solar Telescopes

In 2004, Meade broadened its product range by acquiring Coronado Filters from founder David Lunt. Coronado specializes in solar telescopes that provide views in Hydrogen-Alpha wavelengths. The Solarmax series serves both amateur enthusiasts and professionals, beginning with the Solarmax 40 model.

Additional Products

• Achromatic refractors in 5 and 6-inch sizes
• Entry-level reflectors and refractors imported under the Meade brand designed for novice users

Telescope Accessories

Meade’s accessory portfolio features the Series 5000 eyepieces, which rival Tele Vue’s high-end Nagler, Panoptic, and Radian eyepieces in optical excellence. The company also offers digital imaging devices tailored for deep-sky and lunar photography. Furthermore, Meade markets the mySKY and mySKY Plus multimedia GPS units to assist users in celestial navigation, positioning these products as direct competitors to Celestron’s SkyScout.

Litigation

In November 2006, Star Instruments and RC Optical Systems—producers of traditional Ritchey-Chrétien optics—initiated a federal lawsuit in New York Southern District against Meade and multiple dealers. The plaintiffs alleged that Meade’s RCX400 and LX200R telescopes were misleadingly marketed as "Ritchey-Chrétien" optics, thereby infringing on their market segment. By January 2008, Meade reached a settlement involving a modest payment and agreed to remove all Ritchey-Chrétien references from the implicated products.

On September 27, 2006, a class action suit was filed by Finkelstein, Thompson & Loughran accusing Meade of stock option backdating misrepresentations involving two executives. The case concluded with a $2.95 million settlement in December 2007.

Financial Difficulties

Despite founder John Diebel reacquiring the firm at one point, Meade encountered ongoing financial instability. After Diebel sold the company again, difficulties worsened under CEO Steve Muellner (appointed May 2006). The Irvine manufacturing facility was shut down with production shifted to Mexico; numerous administrative roles were eliminated. Customer support services were also curtailed with reduced hours and no callback options. The company explored strategic alternatives amid uncertain prospects.

In April 2008, Meade divested two non-telescope brands (Weaver/Redfield) for $8 million; outgoing VP of Sales Robert Davis received a $100,000 bonus tied to this sale. On June 13, 2008, Meade sold its remaining non-telescope brand Simmons to Bushnell for $7.25 million. That year saw Meade’s stock price fall below $1 per share, risking Nasdaq delisting. In October 2008, Senior VP Donald Finkle was laid off with severance.

On January 29, 2009, Meade sold its European subsidiary for $12.4 million to reduce debt obligations but significantly lowered its asset base. Leadership adjustments followed early that year: CEO Steve Muellner resigned; former CEO Steven Murdock returned; CFO Paul Ross stepped down receiving $260,000 severance; John Elwood was appointed CFO. A reverse stock split at a ratio of 20:1 was implemented during summer 2009 to elevate share value.

By July 2013, Meade faced critical decisions: whether to sell to a Chinese corporation or venture capital group, continue independently, or file for bankruptcy protection. In September of that year, Chinese firm Sunny Optics Inc completed full acquisition of Meade.

In November 2019, Orion Telescopes & Binoculars secured a $20 million antitrust settlement against Ningbo Sunny Electronic Co Ltd over price-fixing and anti-competitive behavior. Shortly thereafter under Ningbo Sunny ownership, Meade filed for bankruptcy. On June 1, 2021, Orion Telescopes & Binoculars announced its acquisition of Meade following approval from bankruptcy court.

External links

• Meade Instruments: Past and Present
• fundinguniverse.com, History of Meade Instruments Corporation
• Overview of the ACF optical design